Faucets



W. STELZER May 13,1958

I FAUCETS Filed Aug. 15, 1955 United States FAUCETS William Stelzer,Summit, N. J assignor to Walter Eickele,

ummit, N. J

The invention relates to faucets and more particularly to sanitarydispensing faucets for beverage containers, incorporating aspring-biased pivoted stopper that may be quickly removed or assembledwithout the use of tools.

Dispensing faucets are usually connected to the container by means of atubular conduit or shank which may be permanently joined to thecontainer if the inside of the conduit is easily accessible for cleaningafter removal of the faucet. If the removal and disassembly of thefaucet is too complicated or requires too much effort, there is alwaysthe tendency that cleaning of the faucet will be neglected. Such afaucet could not truly be termed a sanitary faucet.

The object of this invention is to produce a novel sanitary faucethaving a pivoted stopper inserted in the end of the conduit leading fromthe container and closing off a discharge opening, and quick removableresilient means to bias the stopper into a closing position as well asto retain it in the assembled position.

Another object is to pivot the stopper of the faucet to the faucet bodyor conduit in a manner that permits the easy removal of the stopper.

Another object is to arrange the bias means in such a manner that in apartly open position the resilient means tend to urge the stopper into aclosing position, and in the extreme open position the faucet remainsopen.

Another object is to make the faucet body and conduit integral andhaving a straight and accessible passage for easy cleaning.

Another object is to make the spout of the faucet removable and toconstruct the resilient means in such a manner that it serves to biasthe stopper as well as to retain the stopper and the spout in theassembled position.

A further object is to provide a simple and inexpensive handle formanual operation of the stopper, and in general to provide a simplifiedfaucet having only a few parts that can be manufactured cheaply.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent from thefollowing description considered in connection with the accompanyingdrawing submitted for the purpose of illustration and not to define thescope of the invention, reference being had for that purpose to thesubjoined claims. In the drawing, wherein similar reference charactersrefer to similar parts throughout the several views:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the novel faucet, the conduit leading tothe container being broken off;

Fig. 2, a front elevation thereof;

Fig. 3, a section taken on lines 33 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4, a section taken on lines 44 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5, a sectional side elevation similar to Fig. 3 but showing aremovable spout; and

Fig. 6, a sectional side elevation of the removable spout and resilientmeans to retain the spout.

Before explaining the present invention in detail, it is to beunderstood that the invention is not limited in its application to thedetails of construction and arrangement of elements illustrated in theaccompanying drawatent F 2,834,572 Patented May 13, 1958 ing, since theinvention is capable of other embodiments and of being practised orcarried out in various ways. Also it is to be understood that thephraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose ofdescription and not limitation.

Referring now to Figs. 1-4, a tubular conduit or shank 1 is permanentlyand rigidly secured to a faucet body 2 having a spout or outlet port oropening 3. Conduit 1 may be secured to the container either permanentlyor by means of a coupling. The means for securing and the container areconventional, forming no part of this invention, and therefore are notshown. Conduit land body 2 can be considered as one piece, having acylindrical passage 4 whose one end communicates with the container andthe other end is closed off by a stopper indicated in general by numeral5 and consisting of a toggle lever 6 having a pivot pin 7 and a boot orseal 8 of rubber or other similar material. The surface of the boot nearpivot pin 7 is spherical, equal in diameter to passage 4 to serve as aseal. The center of the spherical surface is at the intersection of theaxes of passage 4 and pin 7, so that the seal is effective while stopper5 is rocked about pin 7. The latter extends through toggle lever 6 andsticks out, trunnion fashion, at both sides to rest in an open groove 10in the front face of faucet body 2. This groove serves as a bearing forthe trunnion ends of pin 7 and to relieve the spherical surface of boot8 of any bearing loads against the wall of passage 4, yet permits thequick removal of stopper 5 from passage 4. The portion'of the bootcovering outlet opening 3 is cylindrical to conform to the wall surfaceof passage 4 around outlet 3, and the opposite side, indicated bynumeral 11 in Fig. 4, is also cylindrical to conform to the wall surfaceof passage 4 when the faucet is open. The loci of these cylindricalsurfaces of boot 8 are not concentric and not in alignment or parallelwith axis 12 of stopper 5, since in the closed position of the faucetaxis 12 of stopper 5 forms an angle with the axis of passage 4. Boot 8may be bonded to toggle lever 6 or it maybe removable, in which case itis held and properly positioned by pin 7 which extends through thespherical part of the boot. Resilient means in the form of an externallypositioned tension spring 14 pivotally seated at 15 and pivotallyengaging diametrically opposite holes r 16 in toggle lever 5 hold thestopper in the assembled position shown, where the faucet is closed. Theprotuberance of body 2 relative to conduit 1 furnishes the seat 15 forspring 14. The spring consists of a single piece whose free ends areco-axial and point towards each other to fit into holes 16 of lever 5.The depth of these holes and the wire ends fitting into them are shownin dotted lines in Fig. 2. Since the wire ends bottom in holes 16, thewire is always properly positioned sidewise and remains with the stopperwhen the latter is removed for cleaning. However, removal from thestopper is very easy, the free ends of spring 14 merely have to bepulled apart and the spring is removed. In the assembled position of thefaucet spring 14 is stressed where the free ends tend to move in adirection towards seat 15, thereby pressing pin 7 in groove 10 andbiasing stopper 5 to be seated where spout 3 is closed off. Stopper 5has a handle 17 preferably consisting of a wire or spring wire coatedwith a thin layer of plastic material. The ends of the wire of handle 17are pressed into holes 18 drilled at an angle to each other into lever.6, as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 2, whereby the handle isrigidly secured even it the holes 18 are somewhat larger than the wire.To assemble the handle of the stopper, the wire, which is resilient,must be pulled apart to start the ends in holes 18, and is then pressedcompletely in, which is only possible through distortion of the wire.The

resistance of the wire against this distortion or bending is also whatkeeps the handle securely in the assembled position. It is obvious thatsuch a construction is extremely cheap to make and easy to assemble.

In. the modified embodiment shown in Figs. 5 and 6 the conduit or body21 has the passage 4 which is closed off by a stopper 22 differing fromstopper 5 only in that holes 16 are omitted. A groove, not shown, butsimilar to groove of Fig. l is in the end faceof body 21, and pin 7pivots in it. A removable spout 23 having an opening 24 concentric withan outlet aperture 25 in body 21 is located by a locating pin 26 securedto body 21 and fitting loosely in a hole 27 of spout 23, and a wirespring 28 seated at 30 and pivoted in opposed and axially aligned holes31 of spout 23 holds the spout firmly in the assembled position. Theupper face 32 of spout 23 conforms with the cylindrical surface of body21. It is of course obvious that the outside surface of body 21 is notnecessarily cylindrical, it could also have flat portions, being squareor hexagonal in cross-section, whereby surface 32 would be flat. Outletaperture 25 is slightly smaller than opening 24, so that a slightsuction is produced where surface 32 joins body 21 when liquid isdispensed, whereby the need for a liquid-tight seal on surface 32 isobviated. Holes 31 extend only a certain distance towards each other,and wire 28 is pivoted in the same manner as spring 14 in holes 16 ofFigs. l-S. Spring 28 is stressed where it tends to contract betweenholes 31 and seat 30 to thereby retain spout 23 by pressing it againstbody 21, retaining stopper 22 in body 21, and pressing boot 8 againstthe wall of passage 4 to close off outlet 25.

In operation, stopper 5 is held in the closed position by spring 14, butwhen hand lever 17 is pulled forward, the stopper is rocked about pivotpin 7 to uncover outlet opening 3. In the extreme open position of thefaucet the axis 12 of stopper 5 assumes a position indicated by numeral34 in Fig. 3. In this position the upper Wall of passage 4 serves as astop against which boot 8 abuts. Holes 16 have moved to be nearer deadcenter so that the force which biases the stopper into a closed positionis reduced, whereby due to the friction of pin 7 and the ball shapedseal of boot 8 the faucet remains open. When the handle is pushedslightly away from the extreme open position in a closing direction, thefaucet continues the closing movement by virtue of the force of spring14 until boot 8 is again seated over outlet 3. The operation of themodified faucet shown in Fig. 5 is the same as described, though thespring 28 is pivoted at diiferent positions. and 7, then the seat 30 islocated above the line when the stopper 22 is in the closed position andbelow such line when the stopper is in the opened position. Accordingly,the spring 28 tends to return the stopper to the closed position but notwhen it has been placed in the extreme open position.

The removal of the stopper shown in Figs. l-4 is effected by pushingspring 14 upwardly at its seat to snap over the edge of body 2. Thusthere is only a single, easily washable piece or unit to be removed.This unit consists of the stopper 5, handle 17, and spring 14. Passage 4is fully open, permitting easy access for cleaning and inspection, alsoof outlet 3.

To remove stopper 22 from body 21, the spout 23 is pulled down todisengage pin 26, whereby two separate .units are removed from the body,one unit consisting of spout 23 with its spring 28 as shown in Fig. 6,and the other stopper 22 with its handle 17. These elements could alsobe removed by first pulling spring 28 towards the right and down fromits seat 30 to release spout 23, and afterwards lifting stopper 22 frompassage 4. The latter procedure in reverse is the most practical inassembling the faucet, the stopper is first placed into the body, thenthe spout is positioned where pin 26 fits into hole 27, and then spring28 is snapped onto seat 30.

If a line is projected through pivot points 31 p Having thus describedmy invention, I claim:

1. A faucet comprising a body, a liquid passage extending through saidbody and having an open end, an outlet port in said body branching fromsaid passage, a pivotally movable stopper fitted into said open end toseal said open end and to close 011? said outlet port from said passage,an external spring supported by said body and pivotally engaging saidstopper to releasably hold said stopper in an assembled positionrelative to said body and to bias said stopper in a position to closeoff said outlet port, and a handle to manually operate said stopper.

2. A faucet comprising a body, a liquid passage in said body, an outletopening from said passage, a stopper adapted to close said opening, awire spring external of said body, and a protuberance in fixed relationto said body, said wire spring having a portion releasably seated behindsaid protuberance and being operatively connected with said stopper tobias said stopper into a closed position to close said opening and tofurther bias said stopper to remain in an assembled position, wherebyrelease ot said spring from said protuberance releases said stopper fromsaid body for quick disassembly of said faucet, said stopper having ahandle for manual operation.

3. A faucet comprsing a body, a liquid passage in said body, an outletopening from said passage, a stopper adapted to closesaid opening, atension spring external of said body, a protuberance in fixed relationto said body, said protuberance serving as a seat for said spring onwhich said spring can pivot, whereby said spring can be snapped fromsaid seat to be released from said body, said stopper having a pivot topivot relative to said body to close off, said opening, said tensionspring engaging said stopper to urge said stopper in a position to pivoton said body and to bias said stopper into a closed position where saidoutlet opening is closed, and manual means to operate said stopper.

4. A faucet comprising a body, a liquid passage in said body, an outletopening from said passage, 2. stopper adapted to close said opening, atension spring external of said body, a protuberance in fixed relationto said body, said protuberance serving as a seat for said spring onwhich said spring can pivot, whereby said tension spring can be snappedfrom said seat to be released from said body, and an open pivot bearingin said body, said stopper having a pivot to rest on said pivot bearing,said tension spring engaging said stopper to urge said stopper in aposition to pivot on said pivot bearing and to bias said stopper into aclosed position where said outlet opening is closed, said stopper havinga handle for manual operation.

5. A faucet comprising a body, a liquid passage in said body, an outletopening from said passage, a stopper adapted to close said opening, atension spring external of said body and having one end engaging saidbody and another end engaging said stopper to bias said stopper into aclosed position, a pivot on said stopper, and open pivot bearing on saidbody, said spn'ng urging said stopper into a position where said pivotrests on said pivot bearing, and manual means to operate said stopper.

6. A faucet comprising a body, a liquid passage in said body having anopen end, an outlet opening from said passage, a manually operablestopper having a seal extending into said passage to seal said open-endand to open or close said outlet opening, a pivot bearing on said body,means projecting from said stopper to abut against said pivot bearing tothereby pivot said stopper on said pivot bearing, and a tension springhaving one end releasably seated on said body and another end seated onsaid stopper to urge said stopper toward said body where said meansprojecting from said stopper is pressed against said bearing to pivotthereon and to bias said stopper into a closed position where saidoutlet opening is closed.

7. The construction as claimed in claim 6, where said stopper consistsof a toggle lever including said means projecting from said stopper, andsaid seal being in the form of a boot of rubberlike material fittingover a part of said toggle lever extending into said opening, said boothaving a sealing surface conforming to the inside surface of saidpassage to seal said outlet opening.

8. The construction as claimed in claim 6, said liquid passage beingcylindrical and said seal of said stopper having a spherical portion toseal off said open end and another portion swingable about the pivotpoint of said pivot bearing to close off said outlet opening, saidswingable portion having a sealing surface conforming to the cylindricalsurface of said passage adjacent said outlet opening.

9. The construction as claimed in claim 6, where said means to operatesaid stopper is in the form of a looped wire handle consisting of asingle piece of resilient wire whose ends are convergingly broughttogether, said stopper having a pair of holes converging from theoutside and spaced to receive said ends of said wire handle.

10. The construction as claimed in claim 6, where said means to operatesaid stopper is in the form of a looped wire handle consisting of asingle piece of resilient wire whose ends are brought close together butare at an angle with each other, holes in said stopper at an angle witheach other to receive said ends of said Wire, to prevent removal of saidhandle from said stopper without distortion of said wire.

11. A faucet comprising a body, a liquid passage in said body, an outletopening from said passage, a stopper adapted to close said opening, saidstopper having means to pivotally bear against said body, a removablespout, means to locate said spout to be in alignment with said outletopening, and a tension spring pivotally secured to said spout andengaging said stopper to retain said spout and stopper relative to saidbody wherein said stopper pivotally bears against said body through saidmeans.

12. A faucet comprising a body, a liquid passage in said body, an outletopening from said passage, a stopper adapted to close said opening, aremovable spout, means to locate said spout to be in alignment with saidoutlet 6 opening, and a tension spring pivotally secured to said spoutand engaging said stopper to retain said spout relative to said body, topivotally engage said stopper with said body and to bias said stopperinto a closed position where said outlet opening is closed.

13. The construction as claimed in claim 12, where said spout has anopening larger than said outlet opening.

14. The construction as claimed in claim 12, where said spout has asurface in contact with said body closely conforming to the outsidesurface of said body.

15. The construction as claimed in claim 6, where said tension springconsists of a single piece of wire whose ends are bent coaxially towardseach other, said stopper having a pair of axially aligned holes parallelwith the line on said pivot bearing on which said projecting meanspivot, said ends of said wire being pivotally seated in said axiallyaligned holes.

16. The construction as claimed is claim 6, where in the extreme openposition of said faucet the force of said spring to bias said stopperinto the closed position is reduced to be insufiicient to return saidstopper to the closed position.

17. The construction as claimed in claim 6, where said pivot bearing onsaid body is in the form of an open groove to receive and guide saidmeans projecting from said stopper.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS894,905 Rogers Aug. 4, 1908 1,015,980 Robbins Jan. 30, 1912 2,262,062Strong Nov. 11, 1941 2,741,453 Hayes Apr. 10, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS19,479 Great Britain Sept. 13, 1898 138,555 Switzerland Mar. 15, 1930100,089 Sweden Oct. 22, 1940 1,060,758 France Nov. 25, 1953 929,222Germany June 23, 1955

